Nashua South boys lacrosse surged in 2nd half to get win against Windham

WINDHAM - Will DeLanoy had a tough call to make.

Going into the final week of the regular season, the Nashua High School South boys lacrosse team would play its next-to-last game at Windham.

But regardless of that game's outcome, and the Panthers' finale against Nashua North, it looked like South would be right back at Windham, playing the Jaguars for a third time this season, in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

Knowing that, DeLanoy tried not to show too much, and it didn't go well, as the Panthers lost by 11 goals.

When the teams met again on Thursday, things were a whole lot different. Windham led 5-1 at halftime and 6-2 late in the third quarter, when South's offense erupted for eight goals in the game's final 14 mintues, as the No. 9 Panthers rallied for a 10-9 win over the No. 8 Jaguars.

“We knew this was  going to be the matchup, so there’s certain stuff that we didn’t do or didn’t want to show (last week),” DeLanoy said. “It’s hard for them to buy-in if we’re not playing what we’ve been practicing. I’m so proud of them that they showed up and did what they needed to do.”

Things turned for South (9-10) late in the third quarter, when Windham's Sam Kramer was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty and was locked-in for two minutes.

The Panthers wasted no time capitalizing, as Jason Brinley scored 34 seconds into the manup to make it 6-3. South added another goal eight seconds later as Raiden Nuy-Chao won the faceoff and found Owen Roy right away for the first of five goals for the senior.

Another faceoff win by Nuy-Chao gave the Panthers possession and Roy made it three goals in 34 seconds to cut the lead to 6-5. Windham's Nolan Lamb was called for a slash before the goal, putting the Jaguars down two players, but they were able to win the next faceoff and run out the penalties and the quarter.

For the day, Nuy-Chao, who had two goals and two assists, helped South wint 16 off 22 faceoffs, which helped DeLanoy believe the Panthers were never out of the game.

“Even if they went down and scored, we were so confident that we would get the ball back again to then do what we needed to do,” the coach said. “Then we’ll win the faceoff again and that starts runs.”

Which is what happened in the fourth quarter.

Grant Imbeault scored 53 seconds into the frame to tie the game at 6, but Windham (9-8) went back in front when Kramer found Evan Ardizzone in front of the crease to give the Jaguars a 7-6 lead with 7:12 to play.

South's Jacob Hovey was called for a cross check on the goal, and after a faceoff win, Windham had the ball and an extra player. But the Jaguars couldn't take advantage, and after a turnover, Roy scored with 6:07 left to tie the game at 7.

The Panthers needed just seven seconds to tack on another goal, as Roy scored off the faceoff to make it 8-7. Nuy-Chao won another faceoff, gave the ball up to Max Signoroni, and then got it right back and scored for a 9-7 lead with 5:53 remaining.

“Goals can come in bunches for sure,” Roy said. “Raiden was phenomenal from the faceoff. He is one of the reasons we were in the spot we were in the second half. That put us in a very good spot.”

After a timeout, the Jaguars won the faceoff, but South's Bryce Stuart (12 saves) came up with a stop and started the Panthers in transition that ended with Roy's fifth goal and a 10-7 lead with 3:54 to play.

“I think we missed a couple of opportunities and we really just didn’t capitalize on a couple of big plays,” Windham coach Sawyer Gagnon said. “Their goalie made a couple of unbelievable saves.”

South had five-and-a-half minutes worth of penalties in the first half, including two stick infractions, both of which led to two-minute locked-in manup opportunities. Windham was able to score twice on the manup in the first half, but the Jaguars went into the break wishing for more.

“I definitely would have liked to have a couple more going into the half,” Gagnon said. “It could have been a different game.”

But even after South's fourth-quarter run, Windham wasn't done. The Panthers possesed the ball for more than two mintues after Roy's final goal, but a save by Jack Tanso (11 saves) got the Jaguars the ball back.

South's Brendan Skelley and Tyler Benzekri were called for a cross check and a slash, respectively, just 25 seconds apart, giving Windham a two-player advantage, and Josh Trudel scored with 53 seconds remaining to make it a two-goal game.

Windham got the faceoff and Cam Terry cut South's lead to one with 24 seconds left, but it looked like the Panthers were going to it up by winning the ensuing faceoff and calling a timeout with 18 seconds left.

But South turned the ball over out of the timeout, giving Windham one more chance. A shot by the Jaguars was off the mark and they were able to chase it down with three seconds left, but time ran out before they could get another shot off.

For South, it's the program's first playoff win since 2016, while Windham was playing in the D1 postseason for the first time. The Panthers will face top-seeded Bedford at 4 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals.

“I told them before the game here, you guys are the underdogs,” DeLanoy said. “Take on that mantra of being an underdog. I’m looking forward to the matchup. It’s going to be tough. But I think the boys will play together and as a team, and no matter the result, they’ll give a hundred percent of the effort.”